A new online vehicle checker has been launched to help drivers and businesses prepare for clean air zones (CAZs) in Birmingham and Leeds.

The vehicle checker will allow drivers to find out if they will be affected by the introduction of the zones, which will charge the most polluting vehicles to drive in the cities.

Leeds City Council is bringing in a ‘Class B’ clean air zone later this year, which will mean some older, polluting buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and HGVs will be charged to drive within the zone.

Birmingham City Council is bringing in a ‘Class D’ charging zone, which will also come into place later this year, and will also apply to some vans and private cars.

Further local authorities including Bath and Sheffield are bringing in clean air zones in 2020 and 2021 and will be also responsible for introducing charges.

Both Birmingham and Leeds councils delayed introducing their charging zones due to the online tool not being developed on time.

The software, which was being delivered by the government’s Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU), was expected to be ready by October 2019.

However, JAQU (a joint unit between DfT and DEFRA) told the councils last June that the new system would not be delayed until the start of this year.

As a result, both councils said their clean air zones would not be introduced until July, at the earliest.

For the latest on the cities considering air quality restrictions, go to our interactive clean air zone map.

To access the new online vehicle checker, click here.

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